Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 102

Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation

Devanagari script

भावशुद्धिविहीनानां समस्तं कर्मनिष्फलम् । तस्माद्रागादिकं सर्वं परित्यज्य सुखी भवेत् ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

bhāvaśuddhivihīnānāṃ samastaṃ karmaniṣphalam | tasmādrāgādikaṃ sarvaṃ parityajya sukhī bhavet || 2 ||

Translation

Für jene, denen die Reinheit der inneren Gesinnung (bhāva) fehlt, wird jedes Handeln fruchtlos. Darum soll man alle Anhaftung (rāga) und dergleichen aufgeben und in Frieden glücklich sein.

Word by Word

• bhāva: mental disposition
• bhāva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; (used in compound)

• śuddhi: purity
• śuddhi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; (used in compound)

• vihīnānām: of those devoid (of purity of mind)
• vihīnānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-hīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (bhāvaśuddhyā vihīna)

• samastam: entire
• samastam: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• karma: action/ritual
• karma: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; (in compound)

• niṣphalam: fruitless
• niṣphalam: Karta (कर्ता/subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣphala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (karma = niṣphalam)

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Apadana (अपादान/causal source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; ‘therefore’

• rāga: attachment
• rāga: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; (in compound)

• ādikam: etc., beginning with attachment
• ādikam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (rāga-ādi = beginning with attachment)

• sarvam: all
• sarvam: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies rāgādikam)

• parityajya: having abandoned
• parityajya: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-tyaj (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

• sukhī: happy
• sukhī: Karta (कर्ता/subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sukhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• bhavet: should become
• bhavet: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It teaches that without inner purity (bhāva-śuddhi), even correct external actions—ritual or worldly—do not yield true spiritual fruit; liberation-oriented life begins with cleansing intention and motive.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

Bhakti requires a purified heart; when attachment (rāga) and its allied impulses dominate, devotion becomes transactional. Renouncing such clinging stabilizes the mind, making devotion sincere and peace-giving.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse indirectly frames ritual efficacy: beyond correct procedure (a concern of Kalpa), the inner disposition must be pure—otherwise karma is ‘niṣphala’ despite technical correctness.